Final Meeting - Tuesday 4th December

At the final meeting, we showed our content to each other so that it was possible to understand how our presentation would come together on Thursday morning. It was agreed that Alexi would do the introduction and conclusion. David would introduce the works of Rousseau and his views on man's freedom and the Social Contract. Nick shall look at Mills and the belief that work is custom to society; man has no choice in whether to serve as such. As for me, it was decided that Locke's argument was not as appropriate to our final conclusions than first thought, therefore, I shall use The Sexual Contract by Carol Pateman to form the argument that gender and social class can be used to answer the question "Is paid work voluntary servitude?"

My original script, based on information gained by Alexi's initial examination of the text, have had to be completely revised for the Thursday session. I encountered a great deal of problems trying to form a suitable argument due to my recent lack of attendance at lectures (not my fault due to illness, working commitments and other personal reasons). However, I now grasp the content a great deal better now.

Pateman's argument concentrates on gender inequality; based on patriarchy and male sex-right to women. It is through historical examples, and prostitution, that women have been - to a great respect - in servitude to men. It is rarely voluntary; except when social class is involved and determines the possibility that a woman should 'prostitute' herself to achieve a living. It is this discrimination of women, especially when they have no children, that forces a woman into patriarchal servitude that allows them to become accepted in society.

With this respect we could answer the question that gender inequality and social class would suggest it is not voluntary servitude for paid work. Housewives are not paid, although it is voluntary to work for the husband and family. Prostitutes do not voluntarily serve men for money. In modern day terms, The Sexual Contract, does not reflect modern day society views and values but has its prominence through history that these inequalities existed. Sexual discrimination, stereotypes and chauvinism shall undoubtedly continue until attitudes change.

It is hoped with these arguments tied up together that the presentation shall be successful in answering the question. My final analysis of the argument shall be posted in the next weblog posting after Thursday where I shall reflect on the critical points of all the other team members and my own, including a copy of my presentation script to show my understandings of the topic and the goals of this module